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Online shopping has become hugely popular for a number of reasons: It's as easy as a click of a mouse, and if a shopper is looking for something in particular, the choices seem endless. There's also a financial motive.

"One of the reasons I think that many people shop online is that it allows the opportunity to avoid the sales tax," said financial expert Anirban Basu, of the Sage Policy Group.

But if the Marketplace Fairness Act makes it through Congress, that little bonus will disappear. States will have a much easier time collecting sales tax.

Opponents of the bill say it's a tax increase, but supporters said it's only fair to struggling brick and mortar stores that must collect sales tax, especially small businesses that can't compete online.

Basu said online sales have grown about 13 percent in the last year compared to the overall growth in the economy, which is at about 2 percent.

"When I see who's struggling in the economy, it's not online retailers -- at least not as a group. It's the traditional retailers who are struggling. So, a level playing field in that context makes a lot of sense," he said.

"It's going to affect Marylanders one way or another, but in one scenario, drivers fare better, and under another scenario, online purchasers fare better," Basu said.

He said if Internet sales are not taxed, Maryland drivers can expect to pay about 20 cents more per gallon in gas taxes by 2016. If online purchases are taxed, that increase will only be about 13 cents.

Either way, the surcharge on fuel still propels the state to the top of the most-taxed list.

"We'll have one of the 10 highest gas taxes in the country. So, Marylanders are subject to a lot of tax increases," Basu said.

The Senate's final vote on the bill is expected next week, but experts said the legislation will have a much more difficult road ahead in the House.